The Allin/Grubb story

Author:
Mick Butler

Fred Grubb set up as a lightweight specialist in
1914. He was not a very likeable character but he was a
prolific record
breaker both on the road and the track and was hailed as "the fastest
cyclist in the world". He first came to prominence as a crack rider in
about 1910. In 1912 he took the RRA London to
Brighton
& Back record when riding for the Vegetarian Cycling and
Athletic
Club. At first he struggled in business because of his
character
and the Great War suspending normal everyday life.
Charley
Davey, also of the V C & AC, had helped Grubb with finance at
the
start of his venture. Davey himself broke 7 RRA
records
between 1914 and 1926. He held the 24-hour tandem paced track
record and won open events from 50 miles to 24 hours.

Back then the biggest time losses on record attampts was due to
punctures, getting a wheel out changing a tub and
getting the rear wheel realigned was a nightmare - remember there were
no forward opening dropouts or quick release systems in general use or
manufacture. Charlie Davey had designed a quick release which proved
invaluable in use and it was fitted as an extra to Grubb racing cycles
but due to Fred's disposition and the onset of the war not many of
these bikes sold.

After the Armistice (1918) Charlie Davey put up more money for Fred
Grubb to resume production with Ching Allin in partnership and the firm
of Allin & Grubb was founded in 1919. Ching was a much more
likable
character so with the prestigious name of Grubb on the bikes and the
likeable nature and business acumen of Ching the bikes were an instant
hit complete with the then revolutionary quick release.

The earliest reference I can now verify is Cycling March 4th
1920 p XVI.
GRUBB RACING CYCLES - with the simplest quickest form of quick release
wheels - Allin & Grubb 132 Whitehorse Road Croydon.
Funnily,
there is also an advert in the same issue for F.H.Grubb 250 London
Road, Croydon, just around the corner from Allin & Grubb and
Fred's
advert says "no connection with any other firm" so it would seem they
had already parted company or all was not quite well.

Next is Cycling
September 30th 1920 page XI THE ORIGINAL GRUBB CYCLES
with quick release wheels NOTE OUR NAME AND ADDRESS 132 Whitehorse
Road, Croydon. Another ad. in1920 was December 23rd page xii WILL ALL
RIDERS OF ORIGINAL GRUBB CYCLES from Allin & Grubb kindly
forward
us news of all their successes on road and path for 1920. For our
private
information. Details on no account to be used for advertising. Allin
& Grubb as previous address.

On the opposite page is an advert for F.H.Grubb "NOT THE ONLY DROPOUT
BUT THE ONLY GENUINE QUICK RELEASE". I was told many moons
ago
by
Bill Bush and Len James, former stalwarts of the Southern Veteran
Cycling Club, that there was one hell of a row between Ching Allin and
Fred Grubb over who originally designed the drop-out and quick release
on the Grubb bicycle. Apparently Fred Grubb wanted all the credit as
his name had top billing on the bikes they were making and Ching was
annoyed by this, staking a claim for Charley Davey who was Fred's money
man and the designer of the original QR. We know that they
parted
some time in 1920 and both had separate shops by then.

Allin Cycles had moved in 1946 to its present home 57/59 Whitehorse
Road. For 30 of their 34 years Peter Cobb was their frame builder.
Ching was the mechanic and Stan was the salesman, as he was not keen on
the
mechanical side.

Interestingly Stan Butler was an Olympic cyclist and in the 1932 Los
Angeles games he came 17th in the 100k time trial. He rode on
Constrictor wooden rims shod with Constrictor 50's tubs which weighed
12 ounces and were quite lumpy. The wheels had double butted spokes
tied and soldered and a Brooks B17 Flyer saddle. BSA
chain-set
with Boa pedals and Southall bars. He rode with two
cracked
ribs! Of the seven British riders who went to the games six of them won
medals.

Cycling
May 5th 1984 reported: "Allin's Cycles of Croydon is one of
those old long established cycle dealers which is known well beyond the
immediate locality it serves. For 60 years, cyclists have come from far
and wide to Allin's for traditional service. This is now being carried
out by Ray Moore and John Hutt of East Grinstead CC who have owned the
firm for the last three years." They took over the business from Stan
Butler and Ching Allin who had run it for 34 years. It was founded by
Ching's father in 1920 at 132 Whitehorse Road, Croydon. His sons Archie
and Ching where both in the business in 1939 by which time it had moved
to 81a Whitehorse Road. Ching went into the army and Archie
went
on war work in Coventry. Both were bicycle polo stars (I think Norwood
Paragon). Ching was of international standard

Frank Southall and Stan Butler were both in the Norwood Paragon where
many members rode Allin's when I was a kid. Back
then many
British cycling clubs were loyal to one local builder. Len
James
played bicycle polo with the Allin's and at least one was of
international status. Fred Grubb even had his own cycling
club
F.H.Grubb C.C. Cycling's
1927 carry time trial results for this
club. Allins also sponsored a cycling cup for Whitgift
public
school.